The public examination in Jingyang City was rapidly approaching, and the Education Bureau held a meeting. The three influential noble families, alongside the leaders from various factions, were summoned to attend.
The so-called meeting was a straightforward affair: "Listen carefully, follow the instructions, and refrain from overstepping. Allow this evaluation to proceed smoothly. If anyone stirs trouble, things will get heated, and even the smallest of misbehaving shrimp will be boiled alive. Do you understand?"
Xie An was a master of diplomacy, far easier to engage with than the cold, calculating patriarch of the Lan family or the venomous old leader of the Teng family. His presence in the room was like that of a skilled dancer, moving effortlessly and gracefully, charming everyone around him.
Lan's patriarch let out a soft snort and whispered to Teng: "If we hung a red lantern here, it'd look like a brothel, with business being conducted right in front of us."
Did this sound inappropriate?
Xie An, ever the professional, ignored it.
Teng's patriarch, with his usual icy demeanor, asked, "And would you pay for it?"
Lan froze, caught off guard. "Of course not, it's not worth it."
Xie An took a deep breath, his expression darkening, his gaze cold as he shot a look at the two men.
The tension between the three leaders was palpable, until Lan chuckled derisively. "I hear you've found another son? Oh, old Xie, thank goodness Jingyang City doesn't have the habit of throwing a banquet every time someone finds a child, or we'd be bankrupt from the gift money!"
Such biting words could only come from men of their stature, and only they dared to laugh. The others, however, kept quiet, seeing how dark Xie An's expression had become.
To this day, those outside the Xie family viewed one certain individual as a disgrace, and truth be told, even within the family, the sentiment was shared.
A "garbage" planet, a woman of dreadful repute—what kind of child could such an environment, such a mother, possibly raise?
The truth later proved far worse than anyone could have imagined. A child born of such filth, was, indeed, far inferior to mud. Mud could at least stick to the wall, whereas it had no use at all.
But this "Aukes" was different.
Just as the atmosphere thickened, a member from the Ministry of Education arrived. The meeting hadn't even begun when a beam of light descended outside the door.
A bird, with wings glowing like the dawn, flew in through the window, landing on the table. Its beak delicately preened its iridescent feathers before speaking directly to the group.
"I am the Temple Guard No. 13. I intercepted a robbery and assault case just outside the Temple. The involved parties are under twenty, and according to the regulations, their guardians should handle the matter. I am here to notify the parents."
"Xie An, your son is Aukes."
Xie An's face drained of color. His irritation with this son was immeasurable. He almost wished he could disown him there and then.
But Lan, ever the instigator, found the situation amusing. "Ah, old Xie, your son didn't go and do something foolish, did he? Seems like that trash planet breeds nothing but ignorance and mischief. No proper upbringing… how tragic."
The glowing bird turned to Lan's patriarch. "Then, Lan patriarch, did you teach your son to rob?"
Lan blinked, momentarily dumbstruck.
The atmosphere grew awkward.
Then, faint cries could be heard from the other side. A young voice pleaded, "Dad, where are you? Help! I didn't mean to do it, I'm sorry! Please come save me, Grandpa~~"
Another voice joined in, softer but desperate, "Dad, where are you? Hurry, I was robbed and beaten, my face hurts so much, can you come to the station to help me?"
Unbeknownst to Xie and Lan, the other two fathers were also present in the room.
The four fathers exchanged glances, and the once dignified meeting hall had turned into a chaotic scene of "Where's my dad?"
But now, they all had to go rescue their sons.
Meanwhile, within the Arcane Palace, four youths sat in a row, squatting by a white wall. Passersby occasionally glanced at them, whispering amongst themselves.
Yao, one of the youths, spoke up, "Uncle, may I stand up? I'm the one who was assaulted."
Guard No. 13 glanced at her. "I almost forgot. Fine, stand if you must."
Yao rose but quickly looked around at the others' stares, then sat back down. "Standing up makes it worse. It's as if I'm in league with them, just as guilty."
The others stared at her in confusion.
Guard No. 13 paid her no mind, continuing to observe as the two families arrived to collect their children.
To his surprise, Xie An came in person. Both families had to complete some formalities.
Guard No. 13 wasted no time, delivering a clear message: "There are two ways to handle this. First, the Temple takes charge, and according to our rules, compensation will be calculated, including both economic and physical damages—100 times for economic loss and 10 times for injuries. This will also affect your performance score for the year."
The three fathers looked grim. None of them had the strength to argue, for it seemed as if the punishment was going to ruin their sons' futures.
Lan, frustrated, asked, "And the second option?"
Guard No. 13 gave a cold reply. "Second, we don't interfere. The case becomes a criminal one, and the punishment will be determined by the law."
The situation grew dire. The amount stolen far exceeded fifty thousand copper coins, which meant the matter would be treated as a criminal investigation. The estimated value of the robbery alone was in the millions, making it likely that the offenders would face severe penalties, including life imprisonment.
Lan's patriarch turned pale. He realized that there was no way out. The matter would either ruin his son's future or lead to a heavy punishment.
Xie An, ever the schemer, saw an opportunity. "I need the land in the southern suburbs."
The other fathers' faces twisted. This land, while valuable, wasn't worth jeopardizing the family's core interests. But when it came to saving their sons' futures, there was no choice but to comply.
Xie An's tone was unyielding. "Don't forget, the Ministry of Education's new policy is serious. You only have a handful of sons. Lose one, and you've lost everything. My son has suffered enough. You can imagine how hard it is for him to come back from such a background. Don't make this any harder than it needs to be."
The other fathers reluctantly agreed, knowing they had no choice.
Yao, meanwhile, was concerned about her own situation. "What about my compensation? If I don't file a case, will they come after me for revenge? And will this criminal record be kept in the archives?"
Guard No. 13 answered curtly, "Yes, it will be kept."
Xie An looked at Yao with a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "Don't worry, we're all friends here. Come, Yao, let's introduce you to your brothers."
Yao understood that her interests were secure for now, and she knew she could still appeal if necessary. She smiled back at Xie An, but beneath her facade, she already knew the game had only just begun.
After the meeting, Xie An transferred a sum of ten billion copper coins to Yao, ensuring she was financially taken care of.
As Yao walked out, her expression was one of joy, though she could sense the coldness behind Xie An's gestures. He was a man who thrived on control, manipulating others for his own gain.
She took the money, but her thoughts were already on what came next. The family's Gene Pool selection was fast approaching, and she had already signed up. What would this new opportunity bring?
Xie An had given her a chance, but she knew it was only because he saw value in her—at least for now.
As she made her way to the market, she felt the weight of the decisions she had made, and the road ahead seemed more uncertain than ever. But for now, the game was still in play.